Polycystic ovary syndrome and migraine headache, is there any correlation?
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the role of some sex hormones in migraine headaches, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of headache, especially migraine, in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO) compared with women without this disease.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-three women with PCO and 107 controls were interviewed by 2 neurologists experienced in headache diagnosis. The headache disorders were classified according to the International Headache Society criteria. The statistical significance was determined using the chi(2) test, and a p value of <0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Forty-five women (33.8%) of the 133 cases without PCO complained of headache. Of the PCO patients, 48 women (44.9%) suffered from headache. The prevalence of headache was not significantly higher among women with PCO (p = 0.85). The same results were found for migraine headache (p = 0.13).


CONCLUSIONS
Migraine is not more frequent in women with PCO. It was concluded that male sex hormones and especially testosterone do not play an important role in the exacerbation of migraine headache.
Pourabolghasem
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tabriz University (Medical Sciences), Taleghani Hospital, Tabriz, Iran.
Najmi
S
S
Arami
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence